INEC Is the Biggest Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy — Durotoye Raises Alarm
Leadership coach and political activist, Adetokunbo Olufela Durotoye, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of serving as the primary impediment to Nigeria’s democratic process, alleging that the electoral umpire actively undermines citizens’ participation to preserve entrenched political interests.
Durotoye made the assertion during an appearance on The Exchange Podcast, hosted by Olufemi Soneye, where he spoke extensively on electoral reform, voter suppression, and the future of democracy in Nigeria, PulseNets learnt.
According to Durotoye, INEC has evolved into what he described as the most frustrating institutional ally of those in power, deploying bureaucratic and administrative mechanisms to restrict voter participation rather than expand it.
He argued that the greatest threat to Nigeria’s democracy is not limited to politicians alone but is embedded within the electoral system itself, which he said is deliberately designed to discourage voters, especially those outside the political establishment.
Durotoye specifically criticised the continued reliance on the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), insisting that the requirement is outdated given Nigeria’s current technological capacity.
“There is no technical justification for insisting on physical voter cards when INEC already possesses our biometrics, fingerprints, and facial data. The PVC has become a tool to suppress turnout, not to safeguard the vote,” he said.
He also condemned the voter registration process, describing it as slow, inefficient, and particularly hostile to young Nigerians who are eager to exercise their democratic rights, PulseNets reported.
According to him, these systemic challenges disproportionately affect non-establishment voters, whom he identified as the real threat to entrenched political power structures.
“Those being deliberately blocked are citizens outside the establishment. Those are the people they are most afraid of,” Durotoye stated.
The leadership coach further raised concerns over what he described as the absence of personal accountability within INEC, noting that officials accused of electoral malpractice are rarely held individually responsible.
“There is a corporate shield protecting INEC. Until individuals are personally prosecuted and jailed for compromising elections, meaningful change will remain impossible,” he warned.
Durotoye also spoke on the growing dominance of Nigeria’s political elite, cautioning that widespread defections among politicians are gradually pushing the country toward a one-party system, PulseNets obtained.
He noted that while political alignments may now appear clearer to voters, the quality of governance has deteriorated, with accountability increasingly weakened.
According to Durotoye, mass defections by political actors are narrowing democratic choices and eroding the checks and balances necessary for functional governance.
Despite these challenges, he maintained that recent elections have helped demystify political elites and demonstrated that establishment power is not as invulnerable as once believed.
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Durotoye expressed optimism that a growing citizens’ movement, driven largely by Nigerians who previously abstained from voting, would eventually overwhelm even deeply compromised systems.
“Even when government institutions resist reform, sustained civic engagement and large-scale participation will make continued electoral manipulation increasingly difficult,” he said.
